Every Waking Moment

by Chris Fabry

A 2014 Christianity Today Award of Merit winner from the best-selling author of War Room!
Devin Hillis is a struggling documentary filmmaker who stumbles onto the story of a lifetime while interviewing subjects at an Arizona retirement home. One of the employees—a seemingly ordinary young woman named Treha Langsam—has no family and little memory of her childhood. She does, however, possess an extraordinary gift for connecting with dementia patients. Even more gripping is the story that begins to unravel when a cryptic letter from one of the home’s residents reveals clues to Treha’s shrouded past, setting into motion a chain of events that captures national interest.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Inspirational, Novels, Mystery

367 pages, ebook

First published August 16, 2013

About the author

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris' novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, Every Waking Moment, The Promise of Jesse Woods, Looking into You, Under a Cloudless Sky, and A Piece of the Moon, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Christianity Today Book Awards of Merit, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

Chris has also published more than 70 other books, ranging from nonfiction and film novelizations, including the Kendrick brothers' War Room and Overcomer, to novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Visit Chris' website at www.chrisfabry.com.

Reviews

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Waking Moment was not what I expected. I anticipated a novel about a young worker at a retirement home and one of the residents creating a connection. This was much, much more than just that.

Main character Treha is 20 years old and cannot remember her past. She has a huge heart for the residents of Desert Gardens Retirement Home. This novel is primarily about Treha and her story.

There are many other side stories that are equally compelling: the director of the home, novice film makers in the town, Treha's neighbors and several residents of the home.

While the story wasn't gripping, it definitely held my interest. I look forward to continuing Treha's journey in Looking Into You, which was released in January 2017.

I've now read four Chris Fabry novels (The Promise of Jesse Woods was my novel of the year in 2016) and am a huge fan. I recommend his novels for fans of Katie Ganshert and Charles Martin.

[Eloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a story of hope and courage in the midst of odd, sorrowful circumstances. It is a story of learning the truth about life and choosing how to respond to it. It is a story of forgiveness, compassion, and learning to accept and love others who – for whatever reason – we may not understand why they are the way they are or do the things they do or make the choices they make.

Merely an opinion, I felt the ending lacked substance and I personally didn't care for how it ended. But that's just me. I did, however, really enjoy Fabry's timely inserted, subltle opportunities for sharing the gospel with his readers and also how he is not shy about pointing out untruths told of scripture, an example being that nowhere in scripture does it say (although it is highly referred to as such) that God never gives us more than we can handle. The author's take on this phrase is very refreshing.

All in all, I would recommend Fabry's book for a good read if you want a serious book with some lighthearted moments filtered in.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treha Langsam has a unique ability and one that works well where she is employed. She can connect with those who seem lost within themselves, victims of such illnesses like dementia and Alheimer's who rob not only the family members from being able to communicate with their loved ones but often times the loved ones who remained trapped within prisons of their own body. Treha can relate because she too is different. Judged by outside appearances of eye movements she can not control, often time society has a label of "different" that they place on her instead of simply getting to know the real person behind what the skin hides.

Perhaps this is the very reason she can connect with those elderly loved ones she helps in the Desert Garden Home. Unlike most retirement and hospice centers, the director Miriam Howard sees more that just providing a place for the elderly to live out whatever remains of their life. She believes in treating them like family and the center more like a real home. One in which they find love and acceptance and not abandonment and loneliness and Treha provides that connection to draw them out where they remained locked inside their body.

Now if only someone can find the key in which to unlock the past that remains hidden even to Treha, one that will provide to her the answers which she seeks, who she is, does she have a family out there somewhere and can someone help her physically to get better. It seems that the answers lie within one elderly patient Dr. Crenshaw who finds that sharing riddles, puzzles and word clues with Treha's unparalleled ability to solve them in record time holds the key that will unlock the door to her hidden life.

I received Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I LOVE Chris Fabry's novels because hidden within the pages of each one is a treasure waiting to be found. I don't even have to read the book premise any longer when I know he has written another new novel because I know I will enjoy it like eating my favorite meal. It is meant to be savored because you don't get them that often so you LOVE to enjoy every single moment. This one was no exception. I love how Chris chose to incorporate a retirement home and the telling of the stories the elderly hold is exceptional and often taken for granted the stories that each one holds inside. We get a glimpse of some of those and it gives us wisdom if we are willing to listen and take the time to hear them. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read 'Looking Into You' earlier in the year without realising it was a continuation of Treha's story, I knew I wanted to come back and see what happened prior to the events in that novel. It was interesting to see what essentially functioned as 'back story' for me: How Treha was able to connect with the people at Desert Gardens, how she and Miriam became close, and the documentary.
I liked how Treha, even with her challenges, was able to be a blessing to the people she met, even when she didn't think she was.

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 3 out of 5]

All through this book, I was interested in the life of Treha. I wanted to know what made her like she was, what was in her past. She was such a unique character, one I had never read before, or any like it. I was intrigued. The first two thirds of the book were great. But then the book ended.

We find out why Treha has her disorder, but not why she has her gift. We learn of her past, but it doesn't effect her future. The scenario with her mother just disappointed me. And have I mentioned Devin? We don't learn how popular his documentary was, or if he made more. The banker we had wanted to grovel at his feet was never brought back up. There was just no real end to his part of the story.

I feel like this book could have been great. Perhaps if there is a second book, one that answers all the questions left in this one, than I would love them both. But I have seen no mention of a sequel.



I received a review copy from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

To see what books I back, go to my blog at http://backingbooks.blogspot.com/

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Author

Actually a very interesting and good read after I finally figured out what was going on. Seemed very confusing for the 1st few chapters.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare and beautiful book that illustrates beautifully the interconnectedness of our lives. Also, that even though this world is dark and hard, that in the end, light does win.

[Jenna Hodgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Fabry is one of my favorite authors, but this particular novel took longer for me to become engrossed in- almost 5 or 6 chapters. Once engaged, it was an easy and fun read, but I was highly disappointed in the ending. The mystery was solved, but it seemed like the emerging relationship should have gone further. I felt I was left hanging.
UPDATED: just learned this morning from the author's website that he has written a sequel to this book which will answer a lot of questions left hanging at the end of this book. This was very encouraging to me and might change my opinion of the book as a whole, since the main reason it earned three stars instead of four was because of the unanswered pieces of the puzzle.

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband has been performing saxophone concerts at places similar to this book's main setting, so I was hooked from the start. We call them nursing homes or aged care facilities. Desert Gardens Hospice, in this book, was called an 'end-of-life facility' which seems a bit blunt. The drama unfolds within its walls.

The main character is Treha Langsam, a young female employee who seems to have a way with the patients and inmates. At first, she comes across as something of a horse whisperer, but her subjects are elderly humans who are locked into Alzheimers or dementia. My early impression was that Treha was devoid of a sense of humour, and it becomes clear that she is unable to express any emotion at all. But she has a photographic memory, a fertile mind a bit like a Thesaurus, and loves reading novels. She has no past that she can remember, yet it's evident that she must have some sort of empathy, or she wouldn't get along so well with the elderly inmates. During the story, she's called a 'memory stealer' and you'll have to read the book to find out why.

There are a couple of 'villains' in this story, and one of the easiest to hiss and boo is Jillian Millstone, who is set to replace the kindly Miriam Howard as director of the centre. It's an apt surname for this cold and clinical woman who believes she will usher in improvements and regards people as 'types' rather than seeing them as individuals. It's sad to see a good person retire to make way for an unsuitable replacement who is capable of snuffing the good feelings out of a place in a flash, without even realising that she's doing it. Once again, you'll have to read the book to find out what happens.

My favourite characters were Devin and Jonah, the two young men who wanted to start a business making artistic and revealing films about the reminiscences of elderly people. What Treha lacks in humour, they make up for over and over. I started chuckling when we first met Devin trying to convince his bank manager to give them a loan, and not succeeding in his attempt to 'explain art to a number cruncher'. The boys have no easy road, and you have to read it to find out what happens.

There is plenty of mystery to unravel, as Miriam, Devin and Jonah begin to get to bottom of Treha's earliest history, dredging up some sinister crime from people you would least expect. And we get plenty of alternative ways of viewing the inmates of Desert Gardens. Some view them as 'old fogeys' eking out their last days in some forgotten corner, while others, like Miriam, Devin and Treha, see them as 'treasures in wrinkled bodies.' One of the most interesting things about this book is its success in making readers care so deeply for Treha, in spite of the fact that she seems to function like a robot girl for a lot of it.

I think one of my favourite quotes comes from Chaplain Calhoun. He's a minor character, but sums up the wisdom encapsulated in some of the elderly characters. 'Being content is not a lack of ambition. It's being able to rest and relax and know your worth doesn't come from what others think of you, or even what you think of you.'

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a Goodreads first reads winner of "Every Waking Moment" How lucky i was too.
Treha works at Desert Gardens, an assistant living facility.She is well liked by the elderly that live there. She is a sort of "whisperer"she has a magic touch with them and can even reach the residents who have dementia. She has a special kind of friendship with Dr. Crenshaw one of the residents who live at Desert Gardens. we find out later that Dr.Crenshaw has a sort of past involving Treha and Patients from years ago when he was a doctor.I will not spoil the story by saying what that past is}
Treha has grown up in the foster care system. she only has a tiny memory that may be of her mother. She was abandoned very young. Treha has some disabilities, her eyes dart back and forth. although she communicates well with the elderly residents, she does not do so well with other people. her life is a mystery to most who meet her.
There is also a documentary team who wants to film in the Desert Garden faciltiy. the originally want to interview the elderly residents but become more interested in Treha. Miriam Howard is the director of the Desert Gardens she sees the talent that Treha has with the residents. Can Treha, Miriam, and the documentary team come together to help Treha find answers to her past?
I want to be careful not to give spoilers. I found this to be a heart warming. well told story. I found myself rooting for Treha hoping she will find the answers of her past she needs to know.
I was glad I got the chance to read this story.

[Sara I · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this book because it talks about elderly people with dementia and Alzheimers and such. As my grandmother has some dementia I could relate in some ways to what some of the characters were going through and how amazing this girl is. Although this book isn't the action packed adventure that I enjoy usually it's a really great book. It has a lovely writing style and it has a great meaning and purpose behind it. It's also very moving and it causes you to think about the ends of people's lives and the stories that they have to tell. Also how hard it is working with them and how nice it is too. The plot of this book is that there's this girl, Treha, who can bring patients into a clearer headed state of mind. And there's a documentary team who discovers her and tries to help her tell her own story as she's not really sure why she can use this gift and why she has strange little mannerisms to go along with it. As I've said, it wasn't an exciting book but it was one that I enjoyed reading and it has an interesting plot as well. After I got a little ways into the story I got more and more interested.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Tyndale) and the views I've stated are my own.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry is a fascinating and enjoyable novel that had me reading it almost every waking moment. I looked forward to the stories that would be shared by the elderly at Desert Gardens Retirement home.

Although its brochure lists itself as a "complete end-of-life facility,"there is much living going on among residents and a caring, professional staff.

We encounter a young lady by the name of Treha who works as a janitor at the home, but ends up visiting residents and touching them - she brings out memories from their past.

There are also two filmmakers who seize an opportunity to film interviews with residents. The filmmakers are only interested in stories, not making money
Many new relationships develop throughout the novel that are inspirational.

Chris Fabry has written a novel that I really enjoyed. I highly recommend it . This is one novel where I usually say after I am done reading :"They should make a movie from this book."

The rest of the novel is a journey worth following as Treha searches for her past.

I received this free book from Bookfun for my honest review.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unusual read. Unusual but brilliantly told.

Treha works in Desert Gardens Retirement Home for elderly people who suffer with dementia.

We soon learn that Treha has a gift, a beautiful gift where she uses it to clear the minds of others. But, Treha herself seems to have no past.

Treha we read a lot about. The residence too, however, some of the book lacked back up for me, as there were so many characters floating around in this story you got lost.

I love Chris Fabry's books and I loved this one, but it did take some brain work to keep up once I got past the first few chapters.

It wasn't a book I could easily pick up and put down either, I had to stay with it or I'd loose my place in my mind.

The story was different, not unenjoyable, but I would say it needs your undivided attention.

I was given this book to read by Tyndale House Publishers via Net Galley who I would like to thank.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great hook, good build, but the ending doesn't feel complete. 

Fabry drew me into the story from the beginning. I didn't know what to expect, but I was enjoying the ride. The ending of the book is alright, not as good as the beginning and middle caused me to hope for, but it wasn't bad. The epilogue felt out of place, though...sure it was kindof sweet, but it raises a host of questions that just aren't answered. Why raise the questions when we're ok accepting what the characters have accepted? Unfortunately, that caused a bit of a letdown for me. It's still a nice story with memorable characters and some well told scenes, and if the ending had been strong this would be an absolutely stellar book. It's still worth reading, but it's not the knock-your-socks-off book I thought it was after reading the first few chapters. 

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was slow to start, but really enjoyed this book. I have not read this author before. Frankly, I sometimes get turned off by the genre "Christian fiction" if it ends up being too "preachy". This story was a very gentle reminder of all things good and Godly and had a very uplifting ending. Will read more by this author.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes on my "best of 2013" list, probably my all-time favorites also. Can't believe it's taken me this long to discover the wonderful writing of Chris Fabry. Highly recommended!

Full review:
http://booksmusicandlife.blogspot.com...

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time that I have read a book by Chris Fabry. Even though it kept my interest through the whole story, I am puzzled by it. Sometimes it seems like there were two many characters and I wanted main character to speak more so that we knew more of what she was thinking or feeling.

One character, Miriam Howard is sort of a guide for us in this book. She is the director of the Desert Gardens is preparing for retirement soon but something is holding her back. She loves the people at the residential center and loves helping the people there who have dementia. She is not ready to join her husband who never seems to understand what is important to her.

One of the workers there is a girl, Treha, with a mysterious background. She has no memory of her childhood. She applied for a janitorial type job at Desert Gardens and was doing that until one day, she was drawn to one of the residents who had not spoken for a long time. Maybe she could read that person's emotions locked away in a dementia bound cage, I am not sure. Treha is able to sense what the resident is feeling deep inside. She recognized and reflects back to them what they are hiding inside. By those actions, she sort of makes a break through to those lost in the depths of dementia.

But she does not know why she has no early memories and is locked into her own self with many questions. Why was she the way she was? Why she have no friends or family?

This book is part mystery, part recognition of what people with dementia need, part religious inquiry. The only thing that I would have like more is to have Treha talk or even an insight into what she was thinking.

[K. East · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a bad book; it just isn't a great one. It felt over-long to me but I can't put my finger on what contributed to the sense of moving in slow motion. A lot happens in a short time frame but that's not the sense I got as a reader. It felt like trying to move quickly through deep water -- i.e. a slog.

There were bits that didn't quite seem likely, like the big pharmaceutical company agreeing to two amateur videographers interviewing a key official in the middle of a scandal, and the epilogue seemed tacked on and pointless, contributing nothing to the story or the character of Treha.

On the plus side, the book deals with a very real and current issue -- the warehousing of the elderly in America -- and there lots of thought-provoking lines in the book, such as '... love is not about what you receive but what you give.' There was also a lot of Christian/Bible theology to wade through, which didn't offend me or enlighten me but did seem to bog down the narration a bit. I was glad to see that the "villain" in the story didn't miraculously turn into a kind and loving person. And I'd have to say that generally characters were well-developed and had believable behaviors and relationships. I guess the story just didn't engage me the way I thought it might.

[David Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Fabry's novels are usually an emotional experience for me -- and this one was no exception.(If anything, I found myself more involved in the story earlier in this book than in others!) -- Paige Redwine has lived a life filled with regret and fear -- regret for having been strong-armed by her parents into giving up her baby daughter some twenty years before the novel begins, and in fear of her past being discovered and adversely affecting her career in a Tennessee college. She accidentally discovers that her daughter -- to whom she had given the unusual name of Treha to enable her to locate/identify her, should she have a wish to do so -- is the subject of a documentary film, relating her handicap and her uncanny ability to minister to seniors. Paige is rocked, however, when Treha is enrolled in a course she is teaching. Will Paige reveal herself to Treha as her mother? How would Treha react to this discovery? What effect would all this have on all the lives Paige and Treha touch? -- Author Fabry has succeeded in writing another page-turner, and his Christian faith shines brightly throughout the story. Recommended!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Treha was intriguing, so much so that I was compelled to read the author's notes on the book. Not surprised to find that Treha was not entirely a figment of his imagination, but based loosely upon his own children, having been exposed to toxic mold. The story is not a lighthearted read, as it touches on many difficult subjects, amongst other the plight of the elderly, the issue of drugs and the attitude of pharmaceutical companies, regrets about past mistakes, but also forgiveness and hope. The addition of Jonah, with his dry humor, helped to combat the many somber moments. The story is entirely open ended. The reader is left with many questions: how much will Treha's condition improve, will her mother make contact with her, will Devin's company survive? If this works for you, you will applaud the 2014 Christianity Today Book Award of Merit in the Fiction category. If not, it may leave you wishing that Chris Fabry would write a sequel. Personally, I am left the richer for having read the novel.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treja is sa remarkable young lady who has the gift of connecting with people who have difficulty communicating. She is working at a nursing home and the residents just love her. Devin and Jonah are working on a video of the residents there that they then make into a funeral clip that the person is actually talkng about their life...but they dream about the big documentary that they hope to do one day. Then they see Treja...she has nystagmus and they want to help her find out about her past. Dr Crenshaw, one of the residents has taken a special liking to Treja but when he has a stroke and is in ICU, Treja discovers that he is the one that brought her to this place for a job and has a link with her past. He was her moms OB/GYN Dr and he used anti depression meds on her mom during her pregnancy that was experimental and thus, left Treja with fits of anger, nystagmus but an amazing intellectual ability. Its a story of tenderness and friendship that warmed my heart!!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treha Langsam is a mystery especially to herself. Unable to remember where she came from, she struggles with issues she does not understand. She does, however, have a gift for bringing dementia patients back to a vibrant, if only, temporary, clarity. She works at a home for the elderly who are suffering from dementia until a new director finds her idiosyncracies annoying and lets her go.

With the help of the former director and a couple of documentary producers, Treha searches her past to get the answers she so desperately needs.

Chris Fabry's story is inspiring and is filled with unforgettable characters and an imaginative plot. He always writes stories that are heart-warming and inspiring. I have read several of his books, and he never disappoints.

[Ashlyn Ohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love so many things about Chris Fabry’s writing—his unhurried storytelling, his tight but tender prose, and his eye for the details that most others would miss. Every one of his novels is a beautiful journey through even the smallest cross-section of a life.

I particularly loved this book, though, because of Treha. It’s difficult to make readers fall in love with a main characters who’s completely unemotional, severely disabled, and trapped in a monotonous life. Yet Treha is my absolute favorite Fabry character and one of my favorite characters in the genre. She’s written lovingly with honesty but also hope, and that makes all the difference.

Highly recommend this book!

[JoAnn VanCamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Chris Fabry books-his characters and their stories and their faith journeys. This book touched my heart as I got to know the residents in the nursing home. My mother just passed away after living in memory care for two years. Both in real life and in this book I was struck by the people’s stories. It was always worthwhile just to sit a while and listen to their life stories. How very rich their lives and how important just to let them talk. Also it is worthwhile to watch caregivers help a resident calm down and feel respected.

[Myra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Fabry's books never disappoint, and this is another moving and thought-provoking story that kept me turning pages. The most engaging characters are, of course, Treha, the troubled young woman with her special gift for drawing out others, and Miriam, the director of the assisted living center where Treha works. Theirs is a special and sweet relationship in which they must each discover deeper truths about themselves and to change as a result.

The chapters where the documentary makers recorded the individual stories of the retirement home residents served as a poignant reminder that everyone has a deeper story. There is so much more to each one of us that what we allow others to see.

[Linda C SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly different novel with Christian under tones. The first of this author's books that I've read and I look forward to reading more of the 80+ novels he's written.
An unusual story about a young woman who has led a difficult life, not because of what she has experienced in her life but what happened to not only her (but also her mother) prior to her birth. It gives you hope for the future, no matter what your life has held so far.

[Lewestover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
Having read the sequel first (not knowing it was the 2nd in a duo) I was eager to learn how the story of Treha started. Treha is the victim of a pharmaceutical drug development that went awry. She is essentially alone in the world except for the elderly people she works with and the director of the home where the old folks live. This book is the beginning of Treha's search for her place in life.

[ML Couch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Book

Okay, this wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, and I thought the first half moved rather slow. However, it was interesting and and had enough of a hook to keep me reading. I’m glad I stuck with it. The second half gained some speed. Several important messages in this story about how society treats our elderly and people who are “different” from the majority.

[Sequoyah Branham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabry has become one of my favorite authors for the depth of his characters. What his writing lacks in prose that root me in the scene he creates such sympathetic characters to make up for.

In Every Waking Moment, Treha, Miriam, Devin, and Jonah's stories weave together for a story of letting others in, following the story until it produces one with depth, and walking the line between meddling and encouraging.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember where I got this book, but it has kept my attention between book club books. The story of Treha was surprising. She was damaged goods at birth and was saved by the doctor who caused it. I had heard of one of her conditions, Nystagmus, as we know two kids with this disease. Theirs must be genetic rather than caused like this. I will pass the book along to the family I know that has the children with that condition.